LM 26 Buyer's Guide
The LM 26 is a Danish-built motorsailer from the early eighties, designed by Bent Juul Andersen and produced by LM Glasfiber A/S in numbers under 200 hulls. On the brokerage market it presents as a compact coastal cruiser with a fin keel, masthead rig, and a Bukh DV20 diesel driving a saildrive — a boat whose appeal rests on cabin volume and stability rather than sailing performance. Shoppers will find a consistent fiberglass hull-and-deck package with two cabins and six berths, but should calibrate expectations around its documented light-air sluggishness and capsize screening value of 2.03 that excludes ocean racing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every LM 26 documented carries the same core accommodation: two cabins and six berths within a 26.57-foot hull and 9.51-foot beam. The broad l/b ratio of 2.79 makes the boat more spacious than 79 percent of comparable designs, so even the smallest examples feel roomier than their length suggests. The sandwich deck construction used by the yard reduces interior condensation, a point worth verifying visually when inspecting a used specimen. No alternative layouts are recorded, so buyers should treat the two-cabin plan as standard.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A chartplotter and autopilot are commonly fitted to LM 26 boats on the market, reflecting the motorsailer's reliance on assisted steering and navigation. Furling main, swim platform, and AIS are often seen additions, consistent with coastal cruising use. The base boat may be equipped with an inboard Bukh DV20 diesel at 20 hp with saildrive transmission, and the documented rig uses 8 mm halyards and 10 mm sheets throughout — straightforward to inspect or replace. No owner-upgrade tier items are recorded for this model.
What to Inspect
The recorded notes show no LM 26-specific structural defects, but the documented capsize screening value of 2.03 confirms the boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races, a boundary to weigh against any offshore ambitions. The SA/D ratio of 11.9 on the reference sail and 13.8 with a 135 percent genoa places the boat as slightly underrigged and faster than only 8 percent of similar designs in light wind, so sail-condition and rig-tuning matter more than on a overrigged counterpart. The saildrive linked to the Bukh DV20 should be checked for seal condition as a known maintenance interface, though no LM 26 failures are cited.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the LM 26 are the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium. With fewer than 200 built, the boat is a niche find rather than a common listing.
- Confirm two cabins and six berths are intact and dry
- Verify sandwich deck for delamination or condensation staining
- Check saildrive seals on the Bukh DV20
- Expect light-air sailing to be modest; budget for a furling main or autopilot if not fitted
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the LM 26. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 8 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 1 | $ 22,845 | — |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $ 21,094 | -7.7% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $ 19,543 | -7.4% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $ 16,173 | -17.2% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $ 19,342 | +19.6% |
| May 26 | 1 | $ 19,671 | +1.7% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $ 23,519 | +19.6% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $ 23,382 | -0.6% |
Where they're listed
LM 26 listings appear across 3 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 8 (72.7%), followed by Germany and Belgium.
Country view
11 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $ 22,373 | 8 | 4 | 72.7% |
| Germany | $ 19,342 | 2 | 0 | 18.2% |
| Belgium | $ 18,884 | 1 | 0 | 9.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler 26 | 25.75' | $ 10,109 | 24 | 6 |
| M Boats 30 | 31.83' | $ 37,735 | 21 | 2 |
| LM 26You are here | — | $ 20,788 | 12 | 5 |
| Pearson 26 | 26.12' | $ 4,500 | 11 | 5 |
| MacWester 26 | 26' | $ 4,718 | 6 | 4 |